Sad story of people dying when assisting a yacht near Ballina. Large swells and a yacht in distress needing assistance. It is tragic when volunteers lose their lives assisting us. www.9news.com.au/national/ballina-boating-accident-three-dead-search-under-way-after-northern-nsw-boating-tragedy/974d7967-1138-4fdb-8b99-f8bc374c4a43

Oh, that's horrible, big swell rolling in : (

This was a tragic event for the Rescue Association. What I find strange is the lack of information about the 54-year-old yachtsman who lost his life and any details on his yacht. We don't know whether he was entering or leaving. The Australian media seems to have lost the ability to report anything that represents news! So far, all I have heard is that the yacht will be recovered.

Ramona said..
This was a tragic event for the Rescue Association. What I find strange is the lack of information about the 54-year-old yachtsman who lost his life and any details on his yacht. We don't know whether he was entering or leaving. The Australian media seems to have lost the ability to report anything that represents news! So far, all I have heard is that the yacht will be recovered.

I don't think the media are at fault, they can only report what is known. Apparently the yacht sank, so entirely likely, given no distress call from the sailor, the name of the yacht or any other identifying details wont yet be known. Reported that divers are going to go down, so more may be discovered by them. Also unknown, if he didn't log his intentions, is whether he was coming or going. It's possible family or friends may yet come forward with information about him and his boat, but again the media cannot report what is not yet known, and if they are not chasing up his family and/or friends to find out more, that's OK with me. No doubt more detail will come out in official investigations as they are done and in the coroner's report when that is done.

A tragic accident indeed. Lots of community support for the families & VMR. Some calls for dredging the bar, but I can't see that happening. IMHO education for coastal operations is overdue. I'm not saying the yachtsman had no idea & could have been caught out, but most of these sort of incidents happen because of poor planning.

Quixotic said..

Ramona said..
This was a tragic event for the Rescue Association. What I find strange is the lack of information about the 54-year-old yachtsman who lost his life and any details on his yacht. We don't know whether he was entering or leaving. The Australian media seems to have lost the ability to report anything that represents news! So far, all I have heard is that the yacht will be recovered.

I don't think the media are at fault, they can only report what is known. Apparently the yacht sank, so entirely likely, given no distress call from the sailor, the name of the yacht or any other identifying details wont yet be known. Reported that divers are going to go down, so more may be discovered by them. Also unknown, if he didn't log his intentions, is whether he was coming or going. It's possible family or friends may yet come forward with information about him and his boat, but again the media cannot report what is not yet known, and if they are not chasing up his family and/or friends to find out more, that's OK with me. No doubt more detail will come out in official investigations as they are done and in the coroner's report when that is done.

The knowledge I have from the local crew is the boat name was Orion and was a small, and looked to be live aboard, 20ft trailer sailer that I saw when we walk the dogs most morning tied to the pontoon behind the Calypso caravan park Yamba for many months. It did appear to be In a condition that wasn't seaworthy but I never had the chance to look inside. It appeared to be early 80s / late 70s and narrow with large Perspex windows each side of the cabin. Certainly not something I'd personally be crossing a bar in weather. He did well to get out from Yamba in the morning. I was surfing that day and was a good 6ft with exposed areas larger and the bar wasn't pretty.
No VMR was contacted prior to departure or voyage logged according to updates.

I'm not surprised if that is the case, that boat has been in the river for years, has changed hands a few times. There's an issue with move on orders, I really hope that's not background story.

Drone footage of the small yacht under outboard motor before the tragic incident.

The picture tells a likely common story. Someone buys a boat and moves it as-is and with limited knowledge. Note he has no sails hanked on, so relying totally on outboard. Crossing a bar towing two dinghys already a hazard, not only from getting pulled into a broach, but also from the painters fouling the prop. Next, transom mounted outboards are terrible in a seaway, they bounce out of the water, lose traction, and can shear the prop loose. No drive means a certain broach on a bar. Add the fact that even when the outboard is operating, there is little directional control when you have the propeller behind the rudder. Dont know what the state of the tide was, but given that the rescue craft flipped, probably was not the best time to cross what is known as a tricky bar.
In summary a tragic case of insufficient knowledge and experience. Had he had some sails and stayed out at sea, he might have survived.